Aroundtown Magazine November/December 2022 Edition

AROUNDTOWN
Celebrating 40
years of Rush House
It’s been a positive
year for the team at
Rush House.
Not only have they been
celebrating their 40th anniversary,
but they have also secured over
£350,000 in lottery funding to help
them enhance their wraparound
support for years to come.
Rush House was started in 1982
in response to the growing number
of young people sleeping rough in
Rotherham. They began with bed
space for six people and since
then have provided accommodation
for almost 5,000 homeless and
vulnerable young people.
But putting a roof over a
homeless young person’s head
is just the start. Rush House
endeavour to make sure that
those young people have the
tools, skills and confidence to
live independently in stable
long-term housing.
One key part of the support
they provide is to encourage
young people to stay in or return
to education, employment and
training. In 2017 they launched
their Brighter Futures project which
covered interview skills, CV writing,
job applications, access to training,
and in-work support for people
under 30. Since its inception, the
Brighter Futures project has helped
200 young people gain employment
and 250 into education or training
However, the recently awarded
“
The recently
awarded lottery
funding will mean
Rush House can
develop and grow
the project even
further to raise the
aspirations of more
people across the
town
”
lottery funding will mean Rush
House can develop and grow the
project even further to raise the
aspirations of more people across
the town.
The new look Brighter Future
project will enable Rush House
to work with anyone over 16, with
no upper age limit. Participants
don’t have to be homeless, but the
team will be particularly invested
in helping those furthest from
the labour market, such as exoffenders,
people with limited or no
qualifications, or those struggling
to gain employment due to lack
of experience.
The project will also support
people who are currently employed
but looking to advance or change
their careers and need help to
do so.
Mentors will look at a person’s
long-term goals and set out an
action plan for how they’ll reach
what they want to achieve. A big
focus will be on motivating people
to turn their mindsets around,
while also helping them overcome
any barriers they might have to
employment, education or training.
Rush House and the Bright
Futures project will also be part of
the Skills City initiative that will be
based at Gulliver’s Valley, working to
inspire and inform the youngest in
our society about the world of work.
Rush House has done some
amazing work in its 40 years, much
of which was highlighted at their big
anniversary event in June attended
by many past service users who
have gone on to improve their lives
thanks to the support they received
in young adulthood.
However, like many charities, a
turbulent few years has made the
Rush House management team
look at how they can diversify and
justify their place in the community.
One aspect has been to create
a sustainable income stream to
subsidise the core funding and
grants they receive. Thanks to
leadership training and business
coaching supported by the Charities
Aid Foundation (CAF) resilience
fund, Rush House has been able
to develop their pre-tenancy
programme as a payable service.
A Place of Your Own was initially
designed and delivered for care
leavers and vulnerable young
people in Rotherham, helping them
prepare for all aspects of living
independently such as budgeting,
tenancy rights and responsibilities,
and health and hygiene. They have
since created an online portal for the
course that means other councils
and organisations can pay to
access it, bringing in a new income
for Rush House.
But they are always grateful to
the public and businesses for their
ongoing support. This season, they
are appealing for donations to help
service users move in or move on.
A donation of £15 funds a basic
welcome pack containing food and
toiletries, £30 buys new bedding,
and £100 can buy a ‘help to move
on’ pack for those leaving Rush
House including gas, electricity and
soft furnishings.
But any support is welcome. You
might be able to plan a fundraising
day at work, do a sponsored
event for Rush House, volunteer
your time at Lindum Terrace to
decorate or do some gardening,
or share knowledge and skills with
service users such as budgeting
advice, interview techniques, work
placements or wellbeing treatments.
If you would like to help,
please email
info@rushhouse.co.uk
or visit their website to donate or
find the A-Z of fundraising ideas
www.rushhouse.co.uk
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